What Are Hemorrhoids?

The term “hemorrhoid” was actually coined by Hippocrates and used to describe the blood flow around the anus.

Many people suffer from painful, even bleeding hemorrhoids and are at their wit’s end dealing with this on a daily basis.

Did you know hemorrhoids are a good thing?

You know that moment when you’re sitting in traffic on the freeway on the way home, and all of a sudden you feel a rumbling in your stomach - as if to say “You’d better find a toilet, NOW!” but you’re stuck in bumper to bumper traffic at 6:30 PM and your exit is just 3 miles away, so you tell your body to “Just hold it, 7 more minutes and you’ll be home?”

The ability of your body to actually do this lies in hemorrhoid tissue. So, hemorrhoids do have a positive purpose. Healthy hemorrhoid helps us not to leak when coughing or sneezing.

Some people suffer from bleeding hemorrhoids. This is usually caused by internal hemorrhoids. Because it’s difficult for one to see them, we don’t know that it’s there. This the most common form of the condition.

External hemorrhoids are the less common, but more acute form of the condition. Also called thrombosis, external hemorrhoids are the groups of small bumps that can be seen around the anus. Thrombosis can cause bleeding, discomfort, and if not treated adequately, can lead to other health issues.

Ten million people in the United States have hemorrhoids, leading to a prevalence of greater than 4%. Up to one third of these people seek medical treatment, resulting in 1.5 million prescriptions per year.

The number of hospital hemorrhoidectomies is declining. A peak of 117 hemorrhoidectomies per 100,000 people was reached in 1974; this rate declined to 37 hemorrhoidectomies per 100,000 people in 1987. Obviously, outpatient and office treatment of hemorrhoids account for some of this decline.
The peak age is 45-65 years; however, hemorrhoids plague all age groups.

4 Basic Causes of Hemorrhoids

1. Dry stool/constipation which is said to cause irritation and straining. With repeated increased irritation the veins in the walls stretch, producing the hemorrhoid. A hemorrhoid is basically a varicose vein.

2. Too much stress. The blood pressure in the anal area is concentrated, developing swelling over time. Together with anal irritation the final result is hemorrhoids.

3. Pregnancy. The same principle as in the constipation theory.

4. Too much alcohol or caffeine. Dehydrates your body which in turn results in rectal irritation from force.

Doctors for Hemorrhoids:
This section presents information about some of the possible medical professionals that might be involved with Hemorrhoids. Ask your doctor to recommend what other types of doctors, physicians, medical specialists, or other medical professionals should be part of the team for your medical issues.

Doctor and medical specialist list for Hemorrhoids:

The following types of doctors or medical specialists have been listed as possibly involved in diagnosis, treatment or management for Hemorrhoids:

* Colorectal surgeon
* Gastroenterologist
* General surgeon
* Proctologist


One Response to “What Are Hemorrhoids?”

  1. Great ideas, is there a place to elaborate on this all?

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